Journeyman boxer Johnny Greaves navigated a 100-fight professional career marked by personal battles against drugs, alcohol, depression, and public abuse.
The 46-year-old from East London candidly admits feeling “no better than useless” throughout his career, which saw him lose 96 times.
He would often accept bouts at the very last moment, sometimes entering the ring after drinking lager. Simultaneously, he struggled with a severe cocaine habit and would actively hope to lose matches to ensure future paydays as an opponent.
Fans would spit on him as he made his way to the ring, and Greaves revealed that he was occasionally treated “no better than a dog.”
Despite the physical and emotional toll of the sport, he never missed a day of work as a self-employed painter and decorator, needing to provide for his wife Vicky and their children, daughter Ruby and son Teddy.
When Greaves turned professional in 2007 at the age of 30, he had already competed in 50 unlicensed fights and 30 amateur contests.
However, upon learning he would only earn around £800 per fight while trying to build his reputation and sell tickets, he decided to switch to being an “away corner” fighter. Recognizing he could earn nearly £2,000 per bout as an opponent for rising stars, he abandoned his aspiration of becoming a champion.
Greaves has shared his remarkable career journey in a new book titled “Bright Lights and Dark Corners”.
In a candid interview, Greaves explained his decision: “At the time I was skint. I didn’t have a lot of work on. Vicky and I had just moved into a place, Teddy had just been born with severe clubfoot, so he was in and out of hospitals every other day. I was struggling badly.”
This strategic choice launched one of Britain`s most notable journeyman boxing careers, with Greaves sometimes fighting up to 20 times a year.
Recounting a points loss to Ryan Walsh in 2008, Greaves described the last-minute nature of his career: “I’d just opened my third can of Fosters when my phone rang at 4.30pm on the Saturday. I took the fight, agreed the money and was in the ring boxing at the Excel Arena at about ten past six.”
On another occasion in 2012, Greaves, who also holds a coaching licence, was scheduled to work as a cornerman for Jody Meikle at York Hall. However, he ended up stepping in to fight Meikle`s opponent, Eren Arif, himself.
Greaves recalled: “I remember the promoter running out asking, ‘What do you weigh?’ I replied, ‘10st 6?’ He continued, ‘Do you want a fight?’ I said, ‘F***, what are you paying?’ So we discussed the money, then I phoned the missus to meet me at the station with a bag, my shorts, boots and a gum shield. She passed the bag over the counter, I rushed back to York Hall and I was fighting about half an hour after that.”
Greaves is remarkably frank about the realities of the fight game, stating that financial necessity came first for him and winning too often could jeopardise his earning potential.
He clarified: “I don’t wanna make it look like it’s bent, but, look, I boxed nine world champions, I boxed over 20 British champions. I boxed the best fighters in the world – Anthony Crolla, Jamie Cox, Johan Perez.”
He continued: “Or, you’re boxing against young lads that look, let’s have it right, if you win these fights, you’re gonna lose work for yourself, you then become a risk, so you play the game. You don’t let your hands go against these kids, you play through, get through nice and safe, get paid, lose on points, hopefully. And then you fight again the week after.”
However, throughout his boxing career, Greaves kept a struggle hidden, even from his family.
He was battling a severe cocaine addiction, so intense that he would sometimes use it on fight nights.
`Things were pretty crazy`
He confessed: “I’m disgusted about the way I went through things with the drugs through my career. Recreational drugs, nothing performance enhancing. If anything it’s performance debilitating, to be honest.”
He added: “Getting through packets of cocaine, just just to control my nerves, control my moods. I had a habit and I’m really disgusted about it.”
In 2009, Greaves fought Oisin Fagan in Dublin shortly after a heavy drinking session.
Greaves recalled: “I was on my own in a hotel room and up all hours of the night doing what I was doing. I got in and boxed the top Irish lad the next day. Things were pretty crazy then.”
Greaves has since overcome his cocaine addiction and has been working as a painter on landmarks like The Shard at London Bridge Station.
He explained his motivation: “My family were always well provided for. My whole life has been about providing for my kids. But my release, getting away and forgetting about my life as a loser, would be to go and get smashed and forget about it.”
He has also conquered his struggles with alcohol.
However, he continues to experience depression and carries the emotional scars from facing hostile and vulgar crowds.
He shared: “I’ve always been weak mentally, suffered a hell of a lot with depression and suicidal thoughts, very low self-esteem. And look, when you’re in front of crowds of 900 people all screaming and shouting and slagging you off and laughing at your record, it was emotionally tough.”
He added: “The toughest part of my boxing career was dealing with the abuse I was getting. Why would I want my son coming to watch me get beaten and suffer dogs’ abuse from the crowd?”
“I’ve had people spit on me when walking into the ring, it’s a nasty game. I was treated no better than a dog at times. I had 100 professional fights, I won just four. To anyone who doesn’t understand the game, you’re no better than useless.”
You`re Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together
- HUMEN
- Mind, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, 116 123
He believes: “People just don’t understand the game and the business model of how boxing actually works. So dealing with things mentally and emotionally was tough.”
Greaves maintained one rule regarding his fights: his friends and family were forbidden from attending.
He explained: “Look, I’m there to lose. I don’t want my wife and kids seeing that.”
However, he made an exception for his final fight in 2013 against Dan Carr at York Hall. He ended his career on a high note, securing a victory in front of 500 of his supporters.
Greaves beamed about that night: “I fought my heart out and trained like a beast. I would have boxed anyone in my last fight and been confident enough to win it. I would have boxed King Kong that last time and I’m pretty sure I would have at put up a good fight.”
Greaves delves into his remarkable career in his biography, “Bright Lights and Dark Corners”, which is now available.
Detailing his boxing life in the book helped him confront and conquer the personal demons that troubled him throughout his time in the ring.
He stated: “This book has been a therapy session for me, it’s about getting a lot off my chest.”
Oliver Croft 
Neville Whittle